Rigazio-DiGilio, Anthony J.
Anthony John “Tony” RigazioDiGilio, 70, of Lebanon, CT passed away peacefully on March 30th, with his spouse of 45 years by his side. He was born in Queens, New York to Frank and Margaret. He met his beloved wife Sandra in 1975 and they married in 1977, later welcoming their daughter, Elizabeth, and their son Nicholas. Anthony is also survived by his son-in-law, Gerry, and by his sisters, brothers, and in-laws: Frank DiGilio, Peggy & Frank Cavallo, Ginny DiGilio, Linda DiGilio (née Musto), Andy & Maryann (nee Musto) DiGilio, Maryanne Riggin & Al Francis, and Christina & Billy Gummerman. He will also be greatly missed by his many nieces, nephews, and dear friends from the area, around the country and beyond.
Anthony was an exceptionally dedicated educator with a passion to create avenues for people to realize their goals. After earning a Bachelor's degree in Early Secondary Social Studies at SUNY-Cortland in 1973, his teaching career began in the Neighborhood Youth Corps of Springfield, MA. Over the next decade, while working to complete a Doctor of Education degree from UMass-Amherst, he developed and delivered programs to meet the needs of several community human services agencies. In October 1980, he was appointed Principal of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Service at Mount Sinai Hospital. He went on to become Principal of Mary E. Griswold Elementary School in Berlin, CT where he quickly became known throughout the educational community as “Dr. R-D.” In 1990, he received a full-time professorial appointment at Central Connecticut State University, where he had been teaching part-time, on and off, since 1974. He retired from CCSU in 2017. As a thought-leader in his discipline, well-respected colleague, and the “go to” guy for many, he was sought after by school district
leaders throughout Connecticut for his deep knowledge of schools and trends in education. In 2010, he was named the Connecticut State Educational Leader of the Year and in 2012 he received CCSU's Distinguished Service Award. Among his large circle of family, colleagues, students and friends, Anthony was known for his gifts of sensitivity, listening, compassion, and as
an unending source of love, patience, persistence, and good humor.
Tony pursued a rich agenda in educational leadership grounded in an unpretentious commitment to the “noble profession.” He was impeccably honest, extremely sensitive, gregarious, and humble. He will be remembered as a risk taker, influential servant-leader, and brilliant teacher. A loving husband, devoted father, and committed family man, he lived a fulfilling life and his loss will be felt by many.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, May 29, at 5 p.m. in Alumni Hall in the Student Center on the campus of Central Connecticut State University. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to the CCSU Foundation, Inc., PO Box 612, New Britain, CT 06050-9921.
Please sign guestbook at courant.com/obituaries